field; but something more than good fortune must attend the statesman, in whom the utmost profundity of intellect and solidity of judgment are essential,—holding, as did Sir Aubrey, in connection with his military titles, the rank of Right Honourable Member of His Majesty's Privy Council. And the simple title of Sir, prefixed to his name as a badge of the distinguished order bestowed upon him, was prized infinitely above any loftier title, since it would cease with himself, nor be transferred to successors with whose name he did not choose that, in future ages, his individual fame should be confounded.
Sir Aubrey, therefore, though unable to forget he had a son who bore his name, the legitimate representative of his race, yet endeavoured carefully to shun all occasions that might lead to inquiries concerning him. Frustrated by the means he had proposed in forwarding his aggrandisement, by presenting him to his sovereign as an object worthy of his patronage, it only remained that while, under the circumstance of his imprisonment and painful persuasion, obloquy on his son's account might attach to himself, he, the father, should be the first to throw over him an impenetrable veil, by erasing if possible the name of Colonel De Brooke from the court.
